Tavern owner, Matt Noble signs off on the accessible wider doorways downstairs.
I am happy to report that we have several teams on site right now. Ed Bayer’s crew from Refined Outdoor Living Environments are moving earth, laying a patio for outdoor dining/lounging in front of the restaurant and creating a step-free accessible front entrance.
Outdoor patio in process at The Tavern on the Square. New Wilmington, Pa
Local Contractor Nate Heckathorn and his trusty team are working on the inside of the 1849 building. They’ve widened passageways downstairs in the restaurant and have taken down walls in the future Mercantile. They’ve added new double-hung windows to what we’re calling the sunroom or the former foyer. We wanted dining and life right in the front of the the restaurant so all the warmth and energy can be seen from the street.
In the back, we’re extending the existing kitchen by twelve feet. We are only adding on to the previous addition, the original 1849 back portion of the building will still be visible. We hope this additional space will allow us to prepare our seasonal menu made with quality meats, dairy and vegetables grown right in this area while also hosting larger parties such as rehearsal dinners, college reunions and even small weddings in the future. The Tavern has played host for so many milestone moments and we hope to keep that tradition alive.
Rollinson Construction, Inc. builds-out the kitchen extension at The Tavern on the Square. New Wilmington, Pa
TJ Rollinson of Rollinson Construction, Inc. is building the addition off the back of The Tavern. We decided to put in an elevator as well as a set of service stairs, providing access to all three stories of the building from the back entrance closest to our parking area.
This was a big decision both financially and esthetically. Though undetectable from the outside, an elevator and new set of stairs will not ‘feel’ historical. However, one of the missions of this restoration is to give the Tavern another 100 years of service and we ultimately felt this was the best way to do the most good for the building, the business and our guests.
The entire restaurant will be accessible to everyone so all VIP’s can attend those important gatherings. We will even have another set of bathrooms on the first floor, which we are hearing is a major Tavern improvement.
Local Carpenter John Loreno and Matt Noble finalize the bar design for The Tavern on the Square.
Carpenter John Loreno is building a 13-seat custom bar from local timber for the mural room downstairs. He’s also working on a smaller bar for the upstairs for busy nights or large party buy-outs.
Everyone is hard at work daily. Our aim is to set-up this building for another hundred years of service to this community. But I better cut to the chase and answer the burning question…when are we going to be open?!
Well, Evan Filip says early fall 2023. Who is Evan Filip?
New Recruit
We’re excited to announce that Evan is The Tavern on the Square’s General Manager. Evan has a BA in Hospitality Management from Kent State University. He’s had a heart for The Tavern ever since he was young and would make frequent visits with his family.
General Manager Evan Filip in front of the 1849 siding at The Tavern on the Square.
As a professional, Evan has opened and managed multiple upscale restaurants as well as working as Food & Beverage Director for several hotels in Ohio. He has a passion for delivering genuine hospitality and prides himself on facilitating exceptional experiences for each guest. Evan is eager to meet and see all of you at The Tavern!
We are currently interviewing for leadership positions so please contact Evan if you are interesting in working with us! evan@thetavernonthesquare.com
COMMUNITY
We’ve had great opportunities to get out into the neighborhood and share our passion for this growing community. Tavern Owner, Maggie Noble whipped up a tasty treat and planted a take-home garden with a local New Wilmington preschool class for their last day of school celebration.
Tavern Owner Maggie Noble plants an edible garden with New Wilmington’s little growers at Marti Park.
The small team, including owners Matt & Maggie Noble along with Evan Filip and Social Media Manager, Katie Anterock did a Tavern Take-over at the Fresh Market Grill, New Wilmington’s farmers’ market that runs every Saturday from 9-1 May through September.
The Tavern’s Katie Anterock and Lawrence County Historical Society President, Andrew Henley at New Wilmington’s Fresh Market.
The menu featured beautiful seasonal product from local farm partners:
Moose Family Farm, Fallen Aspen Farm, Glacial Till Farm, Autumn’s Fresh Cut Flowers and MegaMonster Microgreens.
The Tavern took-over the Fresh Market Grill at New Wilmington, Pa’s farmers’ market.
STAY TUNED
Your support means so much to us. We often say we feel blessed with demand. If we didn’t have your enthusiasm, we wouldn’t have the courage to take on such a big task.
Thank you for continuing to follow our progress here with our journal entries as well as on our facebook and instagram accounts. For those of you who don’t ‘do’ social media, we are regularly updating our gallery of photos here on our site. Please invite your curious friends to sign up for our newsletter to find out more about restoring a very old building; starting up a farm to table restaurant and diving into an amazing community headfirst.
If you’re enjoying the story as it unfolds, tune-in to our YouTube channel as we get out into the fields and meet our local farmers!
